Legal Aid in Indianapolis: Where to Get Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

If you live in Indianapolis or Marion County (or nearby counties) and can’t afford a private lawyer, there are nonprofit and volunteer-lawyer organizations ready to help with civil legal problems. This guide shows where you can turn — what kinds of issues get help, how to contact providers, and how to prepare when you reach out.

Major Legal Aid Organizations Serving Indianapolis / Marion County

Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (ILAS)

• Who they help: Low-income individuals and families in Indianapolis / Marion County (and some surrounding counties) who face civil-law problems. Their services target people below certain income thresholds (often ≤ 125% of federal poverty guidelines).
• What cases they handle: Civil issues including family law (divorce, custody, child support, guardianship), domestic violence / protection orders, guardianship for minors / adults, senior / disability support, and housing/tenant issues.
• How to contact: Office Address: 615 N. Alabama Street, Suite 122, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Phone: (317) 635-9538.
• Notes: They provide free civil-legal aid. ILAS does not assist with criminal legal matters.

Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS – Indianapolis Office)

• Who they help: Low-income Hoosiers throughout Indianapolis / Marion County (and statewide) who qualify under income and eligibility guidelines.
• What cases they take: Wide range of civil-law matters: housing and landlord/tenant (evictions, rent issues), public benefits, consumer & debt law, family law (including domestic-violence and protection-order cases), senior law, immigrant & language-access rights (through their Immigrants’ and Language Rights Center), life-planning / estate work, and more.
• How to contact: Office Address: 1200 Madison Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Phone: (317) 631-9410 (or toll-free 844-243-8570 statewide).
• Notes: ILS is the largest civil-legal aid provider in Indiana; they do not handle criminal cases.

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (NCLC)

• Who they help: Low-income residents in Indianapolis and statewide, including veterans, immigrants, people with limited resources.
• What cases they handle: Civil-law issues such as housing (evictions, repairs, security deposit disputes), consumer/debt law, immigration and citizenship issues, veteran-related civil needs, license or driving-record issues, expungement, small claims and more.
• How to contact: Office Address: 3333 N. Meridian Street, Suite 201, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Phone: (317) 429-4131.
• Notes: The clinic offers free legal representation and advice for eligible clients; they handle civil matters only, not criminal defense.

Free or Low-Cost Clinics & Self-Help Resources in Indianapolis

• Heartland Pro Bono Council (Local branch of Pro Bono Indiana) — Matches volunteer attorneys to low-income people with civil-law needs (eviction defense, debt, landlord/tenant, small claims, family law, estate/guardianship, etc.) when the main legal-aid providers cannot take the case.
• Indiana Legal Help (Online resource & self-help hub) — Provides free, easy-to-use court forms, instructions, legal guides, and information for people representing themselves in civil-law matters (housing, debt, family law, benefits, etc.). Good option if you must file on your own.
• Indiana Free Legal Answers (Virtual Advice Clinic) — Lets you submit civil-law questions (housing, family, consumer, benefits, debt, etc.) online and receive free answers from volunteer lawyers. Useful if you qualify and need guidance before court or representation.
• Indianapolis Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — If you don’t qualify for free aid or need a private attorney, this referral service can help you find a lawyer who handles your type of civil case. Phone: (317) 269-2222.

What Legal Aid in Indianapolis Usually Doesn’t Handle

• Criminal defense / serious criminal cases: All major providers above focus on civil-law matters (housing, family law, benefits, debt, consumer issues). Criminal legal problems generally aren’t handled.
• Large-scale business or complex commercial litigation: The aid providers serve individuals, families, and vulnerable populations — they don’t handle corporate or high-value business disputes.
• No guarantee of representation: Because demand is high, even eligible clients may only get advice, limited representation, or referrals — especially if the case is non-urgent or resource-intensive.

Emergency & Urgent Help — When You Need Legal Aid Quickly in Indianapolis

If you face urgent civil-law issues — eviction, loss of housing, unsafe living conditions, domestic-violence or protective-order needs, sudden benefit denial, consumer scams or debt collection, or other crises — these services tend to respond faster or prioritize urgent cases:

• Call Indianapolis Legal Aid Society at (317) 635-9538 — especially for family, housing, domestic-violence, and guardianship-related emergencies.
• Contact Indiana Legal Services at (317) 631-9410 (or toll-free 844-243-8570) — for housing emergencies, benefit denials, consumer law crises, and other urgent civil matters.
• Use Heartland Pro Bono Council / Indiana Legal Help / Indiana Free Legal Answers to get advice or referrals — helpful if main programs are full or you’re waiting for intake.

How to Prepare Before You Call or Seek Help

• Gather proof of income or public-benefits status — pay stubs, benefit letters (SNAP, SSI/SSDI, unemployment), government-assistance notices, or other documentation showing limited resources. Many legal-aid providers base eligibility on income.
• Collect any documents related to your legal issue — For housing: lease or rental agreement, eviction or landlord notices, maintenance/repair records or photos (if unsafe), rent receipts, utility shut-off or code-violation notices. For family/domestic-violence: police or protection-order paperwork, court or agency letters, any relevant correspondence. For debt/consumer: bills, collection letters, notices, contracts, or loan statements.
• Know household information — number of people in your household, their ages and relationships, dependents, disabilities or special needs, and address/contact info. This helps with eligibility screening.
• Write down relevant deadlines — eviction hearing date, court date, benefit-cut-off date, utility shut-off, or any immediate threat. Urgency can influence prioritization.
• Prepare a clear, simple summary of what happened — include timeline, who’s involved, what you need (housing, protection order, benefits, debt relief, etc.). Clear info helps intake staff quickly assess whether they can help you.

Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for Free Legal Aid

• Volunteer or mod-fee attorneys (via Heartland Pro Bono Council or Indianapolis Bar Association Referral Service) — If legal-aid offices are full or you’re above income limits, referral services may connect you with sliding-scale or reduced-fee lawyers.
• Self-help & court forms via Indiana Legal Help — Especially useful if you must represent yourself (pro se) for housing, small claims, family law, debt or benefits cases.
• Online legal-advice clinics (Indiana Free Legal Answers) — For civil-law questions if you can’t get full representation; can help clarify rights or next steps before deadlines.

Key Takeaways

• Indianapolis has a strong civil-legal aid network — led by Indianapolis Legal Aid Society and Indiana Legal Services — plus additional support through Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, volunteer-attorney networks, and self-help resources.
• If you face serious civil-legal problems — eviction, unsafe housing, family/domestic-violence, benefit loss, debt or consumer issues, guardianship, or other urgent civil matters — it’s worth calling: free help or representation may be available.
• Even if free representation isn’t possible — there are fallback options: volunteer/modest-fee attorneys, self-help guides, online clinics, or legal-help hotlines. These paths can still give meaningful support or help you navigate legal processes on your own.
• Before calling: gather income proof, relevant documents, household info, deadlines, and a clear summary of your situation. Being prepared helps legal-aid staff respond more efficiently and gives you the best chance at help.